Automatic self-stabilizing plane for aeroplanes.



R. S. HARTZ.

AUTOMATIC SELF STABILIZING PLANE FOR AEROPLANES.

Y APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27,1915- ::1 Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHE ET l.

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H. s. mmz. AUTOMATIC SELF STABILIZING PLANE FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. I915- Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS En STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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AUTOMATIC SELF-STABILIZING PLANE FOR AEROPLANES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedAug. 10, 1915} Application filed February 27, 1915. Serial 0. 10,954. r

' planes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flying machines of the type known as aeroplanes and has for its object toprovide an automatic self stabilizing plane or planes to be used in aeroplane construction. 1 Another object is to dispense with numerouspieces of mechanism heretofore necessary the stabilizing of aeroplanesand ,rendering the aeroplane self balancing and self righting With these'and other objects in view my invention consists in aplane having an inherently stable body portion and an inclos ing inherently flexible portion; it consists further in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will be hereinafter. more fully described and ointed out in the claims, reference be-. ing ad to the accompanying drawings, in which, "-Figure 1 is afrontelevation of a flying machine showing my'improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side 'elevationof the same. Fig. 3is a top plan view of the plane or supportingmember. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.-4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig, 3. Figs. 6, 7

' 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing various positions assumed by the plane in falling and righting itself.. Fig. 10,. is a fragmentary plan view showing a modified construction of flange. Fig. 11 is a section of the same on line 1111 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modification.

As shown in the drawin the plane consists essentially of two port1 ons,-a rigid central or, body portion and flexible inclosing portion, the rigid portion having the gen eral contour shown in Fig. 3; this portion A .which comprises the supporting means has the genera outline of the body of a bird and its wings B representing its perimeter or boundary the wings being represented by A and as shown .in Fig. 3; the breast portion is slightly curved-'rearwardly and each I wing portion has its 'front'edge curving The dotted lines D in 3 "E p ngs or bows that permit the flexi-- gradually to the rear until it reaches the tips which are rounded, thence therear edges of the wings are composed of slightly convex curves to a polnt at each side of the rear center ofthe body portion where they merge by concave curves'witha slight convex curve forming the rear edge of the body ortion.

The space inclosed within the-dotte curved.

linesA inthis figure, represent the approximate nosltlon of t he car with respect to the plane for carrying the propelling means,

' passengers,'etc., andthe point A is th'eapproximate center of gravity of the plane and car; the front part of boundary B 'of the rigid portion has the form shown and meets the rear boundary line B at the rear ends of the wings A the front and rear edge of the body portion A being higher than the point A the said body portion curving; gently upwardly in all directions to the perimeter or boundary lines B, B from the point A or the center of gravity, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. I

Merging with the 1 main or rigid (nonthe boundary or edge of which is represented by the letter Cflwhich partakes of the general shape of the boundary of the main portion. Thefiange G has'aslightly rearward curved portion at the front center and then curves outwardly and jrearwardlyaround the ends oratips of the wings, the flange gradually widening. from points adjacent the front center to the wing tips and then extends around the rear boundary of the main or body portion its rear edge being approximately. parallel with the rear boundary line of the inflexible ortion, but the flange at the rear of the ho y and wings being Wider than the flange at the front of the same; the flange at its junction with the body portion coincides with and takes up the curvature which begins at the center of gravity A and extends in all directions, butv the curvature upward-and outward becomes 3 more abrupt through the width of the flange which is flexible and unstable, the flange be- .so, becoming very thin as shown in Figs. 4

and 5.

le outer edge of theflange to become more so -as the'outeredge is approached, but other indicate ,ta-

means maybe used to accomplish the same 80 flexible) portion A is the flexible, flange C purpose, and at these or other points the flange may be split and separated into sections similar to the feathers .of a birds wings.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the portions within the perimeter or lines B, B are rigid or non-flexible, while the portion between the lines B, B and perimeter C are flexibly increased in flexibility toward the outer boundary or edge.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the outer edge.

of the flexible flange is higher than the corresponding point of the stable or inflectionless portion, thereby forming a sort of basin.

The flexible flange portion may entirely surround or inclose the rigid portion or it the Wings and a considerable portion of the. a central or body member and also of the wings are to the rear of the line of the center of gravity as represented at A. The plane may be made of a single piece of suitable material or it may be made up of separate parts of suitable material and construction, but the construction and arrangement must be such as to preserve the essential features of the device, the rigid main body or sustaining portion and a self flexing flange surrounding all or a part of its perimeter or boundary;

In the diagrammatic views Figs. 6, 7,8 and 9, is illustrated the various positions assumed by the plane in fall, righting, etc., thus: Fig. 6 represents the aeroplane designated by the letter P dropped with the front of the plane downward; the air pressure represented by-arrow striking the forward edge of plane Pbends the flange backward or rather upward until it becomes practically non-flexible and then deflects about th curved surface, in this case, to the right, th'ereby pushing the front edge to the left; at the same time the air pressure forces the upper'or rear-flange upward and backward and deflects to the left forcing the rear of the plane to the right; there being a pres- I sure at both ed es, and, both pressures being opposite, the p ane is caused'to right itself. The rear of the aeroplane having the largest flange, sustains the greatest pressure, and in Figs. 6 and 9 the plane follows the forward point thereof, while in Fig. 8 the plane glides to the rear on the curve of the rear flange, as indicated by the dotted lines and arrows, then when righted, lides directly forward; in Fig. 7 the plane g ides upon the to overbalance the parts that should be overcome, when the equilibrium is overcome and when the balance is regained to continue and preserve the balance, at the same time pressing the entire machine forward.

The entire flange is a rudder, or should it be constructed, as not in one piece, but in many, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, it would then become a number of rudders working jointly, each exerting the necessary power to gain the required end. 11811 the air pressure comes from the top, it flattens out the flange to a great extent and so enables the machine to continue its flight or movement with very slight resistance. For elevating and depressing purposes, as also for lateral, auxiliary rudders will be used.

Should the motor fail this aeroplane becomes more or less of a glider owing to its construction and instead of dropping suddently to the earth, will glide down.

lVith this improved plane. no matter in what position'the wings are held, whether inverted, on edge or on end, they will right themselves restoring equilibrium without the assistance of manual or mechanical means.

My improved plane may be used with monoplanes, .biplanes, or flying machines having any number of planes.

I claim:

1. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane comprising a rigid inflectionless member elongated transversely from a central body portion to constitute wings, and a flexible flange extending across the rear of the said body portionand wings around the ends of the wings and portion of its front edge.

2. In an. aeroplane, a sustaining plane comprising a rigid body portion having the general contour of a bird with out stretched wings, and a flexible flange projecting from the perimeter thereof and inclosing the same.

3. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane comprising a rigid main or body portion and laterally extending wing portions, and a flexible flange surrounding the perimeter thereof, said flange increasing in width from the front center to the tips of said wing portions.

4. In an aeroplane, a. sustaining plane comprising an inflectionless laterally elongated body member and a surrounding flexible flange member, the upper and lower surfaces of said body and flange members curving upwardly in all directions from a common center.

5. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane comprising a rigid inflectionless member elongated transversely from acentral portion to constitute wings, the front edge of said member curving rearwardly, and the rear edge thereof curving inwardly to the central portion and a self flexing flange surrounding said rigid member, the upper and lower surfaces of the rigid member and the flange member curving upwardly from the center of gravity of the body portion, as a common center.

6. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane comprising a rigid inflectionless body portion, and a. flexible flange surrounding the same said flange tapering to its outer edge where by the flexibility of said flange is increased toward its outer edge.

7. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane comprising a rigid inflectionless. body portion, and an upwardly curved inherently flexible flange, surrounding the perimeter thereof, the inner edge of said flange coinciding with the outer edge of the rigid portion and tapering in thickness outwardly to its edge.

8. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane comprising inflectionless body and Wing members, said wings projecting laterally and rearwardly from the body member to the rear" of the center of gravity of the plane and a flexible flange projecting from the perimeter of the plane.

9. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane, consisting of an inflectionless main or body portion and a surrounding flexible flange member the body and flange member curving upwardly and outwardly in all directions from the center of gravity of the plane, the curvature of the flange memberincreasing with increasing distance from the center of gravity.

10. In an aeroplane, a. sustaining plane consisting of an inflectionless main or body portion, and a flexible border inclosing the same and consist ng entirely of a series of lndependent flexible flange sections.

11. In an aeroplane a sustaining plane consisting of an inflectionless member "elongated transversely from a central body portion to constitute wings, and a flexible border inclosing said member and consisting entirely of'separate independently fl'exible flange sections.

RUTHERFURD SCOTT HARTZ.

Witnesses: v

T. H. ADAMS, J. M. DENNY. 

